'Storm' on the Red Sea

The escalating situation in the Red Sea, along with the Hamas-Israel conflict, is posing a difficult challenge for the world .

The seizure of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader has heated up tensions in the Red Sea for nearly two months. (Source: AP)

On November 19, 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen, citing their support for Hamas, seized the Israeli-linked cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, holding 25 crew members of various nationalities hostage.

According to TASS, from the outbreak of the conflict until January 10th, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Iranian-backed Houthi forces carried out more than 26 missile and drone attacks targeting commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea.

Most recently, the attack on January 9th was considered the largest attack by Houthi forces targeting international shipping in Yemeni waters. At least 44 countries had connections to ships attacked by the Houthis, and international trade in general was affected.

Amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the increased attacks by Houthi forces have stirred up tensions in the Red Sea.

Important trade route

The Red Sea lies between Africa and Asia, opening into the ocean to the south via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, and to the north via the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (connecting to the Suez Canal). The Red Sea is approximately 1,900 km long and over 300 km wide at its widest point. The seabed has a maximum depth of 2,500 m at the center of the trench and an average depth of 500 m.

The Red Sea is the northernmost tropical sea in the world. The surface temperature of the Red Sea remains relatively stable at 21-25°C.

Some believe the name Red Sea comes from the fact that parts of the sea are red due to a type of red algae that grows near the surface. This algae also only blooms seasonally. Others suggest the Red Sea refers to the nearby mineral-rich mountain ranges. However, the most popular interpretation among modern scholars is that the name Red Sea refers to the South, just as the Black Sea refers to the North. This naming convention relates to the ancient Greek concept of direction: black for North, red for South, blue for West, and yellow for East.

The route across the Red Sea, connecting Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, is considered the lifeline of international trade. The Suez Canal handles approximately 12% of global trade, and ships traveling from Asia access the canal via the 30km-wide Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Approximately half of the goods transported through the canal are containerized. This route is also crucial for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America.

The problem of piracy and the Ever Given incident.

This vital trade route is known to be a "hot spot" for piracy. In 2008, Somali pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships, nearly 200% more than in 2007. The peak of this was in November 2008, when a group of Somali pirates hijacked a $30 million Ukrainian cargo ship 200 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia in the southern Red Sea. The pirates demanded $20 million in cash in exchange. Ultimately, through negotiations, the ship was released along with its crew and cargo.

In the following years, the area experienced a series of piracy incidents, including ship hijackings and kidnappings of crews, causing panic among passing vessels and significant economic losses for many countries that import and export goods through the Red Sea.

To combat piracy offshore and ensure maritime safety in the Horn of Africa, the gateway to the Red Sea, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched Operation Ocean Shield on August 17, 2009. Participating in the operation were ships from the navies of NATO countries, as well as Russia, China, India, and others. This operation followed Operation Allied Protector, which NATO launched in 2008.

Operation Ocean Shield not only aimed to combat piracy but also helped countries in the region develop their anti-piracy capabilities, ensuring sustainable security in the Horn of Africa. In 2010, at the peak of the piracy crisis, more than 30 merchant ships were attacked. The operation ended in November 2016, citing the absence of any recorded pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia since 2012.

On March 23, 2021, the Ever Given (operated by Evergreen Shipping), a vessel the size of four football fields and weighing 199,000 tons, one of the world's largest cargo ships, ran aground due to bad weather while transiting the Suez Canal. The incident disrupted cargo traffic through one of the world's vital shipping lanes, causing significant damage to international trade.

Approximately 20,000 ships pass through the nearly 200-kilometer-long Suez Canal each year. The grounding of the supertanker Ever Given caused delays for more than 400 ships, costing global trade between $6 and $10 billion a day.

The grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal lasted only a week after several countries, using the latest technology, joined forces to dredge sand and clear the waterway. The ship's owner subsequently had to pay over $200 million in compensation to the Suez Canal Authority for causing disruption to this vital waterway.

Houthi attacks have made navigating the Red Sea an extremely tense task at this time. (Source: Reuters)

Consequences from Gaza

Previous crises in the Red Sea, caused by piracy or natural disasters, could be resolved through international cooperation. However, the current crisis in the Gaza Strip is geopolitical in nature, potentially prolonged, and could have far more serious consequences.

Houthi forces claim they attack ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel to show support for the Palestinians and pressure Israel into a ceasefire. Following the seizure of the Galaxy Leader on November 19 last year, there is no sign that the Houthi attacks will cease. The Galaxy Leader is operated by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen and flies the Bahamas flag. However, publicly available shipping data shows that the ship's owner is linked to Ray Car Carriers, a company founded by Abraham Rami Ungar, one of Israel's wealthiest men.

Rising tensions in the Red Sea pose a significant threat to international maritime trade. Due to the escalating situation, shipping companies have been forced to change their routes. Danish company Maersk, which controls nearly 15% of the global shipping market, the world's largest shipping company MSC from Switzerland, Hapag-Lloyd from Germany, CMA CGM from France, and others are diverting their ships to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, a route more than 5,000 km longer than the traditional one.

However, if shipowners still want to pass through the Red Sea, the cost of insurance for their vessels increases significantly. Oil tankers up to 90,000 tons will charge an additional $150,000 "security fee" per trip when transporting petroleum products from the Middle East and India to Africa. Overall shipping costs through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have doubled since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the impact of instability in the Red Sea could significantly affect the Suez Canal and harm Egypt's already struggling economy. The Suez Canal generated a record $9.4 billion in revenue for Egypt in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Campaign to Protect Prosperity

In response to Houthi attacks on civilian vessels, the US Navy stationed in the region has repeatedly intervened to repel the group's provocations. The destroyers USS Mason and Carney have been operating in the area since November 2023. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), on December 14, 2023, the destroyer USS Mason successfully protected the oil tanker Ardmore Encounter in the Red Sea from an attack by two missiles and a drone.

On December 18, 2023, the United States announced a 10-nation coalition, led by the US, to counter Houthi attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea, codenamed Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG). This coalition includes the US, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. Within this framework, some countries participate in joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Italy deployed the missile frigate Virginio Fasan to the region, but it will not participate in the OPG, which is under the command of a US-run unit. Australia sent only 11 personnel, while Greece pledged to deploy an unspecified frigate. Several regional countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have not yet expressed their intention to join the coalition, while Spain declined just six days after the US listed it. The US recently invited India to join; however, like France and Italy, India prefers to maintain its own naval presence in the region rather than join a US-led coalition to counter Houthi attacks.

The escalating situation in the Red Sea, coupled with the Hamas-Israel conflict, presents a complex dilemma. Each country has its own calculations to protect its interests, and these interests are being pursued through different approaches.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-tren-bien-do-257111.html